Ljubicic was a runner-up at this tournament in 2005. The seventh-seeded Croat will next face Paul-Henri Mathieu of France or Karol Beck of Slovakia.

Ljubicic broke for a 4-2 lead in the final set. He also broke serve at 4-4 in the first set, but Serra dominated the second-set tiebreaker, winning five straight points to take a 5-1 lead before evening the match at one set apiece.